A Sister's Weekend

 At the end of October I flew up to Seattle to meet my sisters for a weekend of shopping.  It was so fun and MUCH needed!  We all live in different towns (me in a different state), so we don't get together as much as we'd like, especially without kids.  This was the first time for me, in a LONG time that we has done this without one of us having a little baby along.  We got to do some fun shopping.  Of course the biggest stop was Marshalls, we all found some great buys there.  It was wonderful to sit in a restaurant and take our time.  Being around my sister's is always a mood lifter and a source of encouragement for me.  And the think the most fun part about it is how silly we can be together, and we don't judge!  :)

Yankee candles are my fave!  Had to hit the Yankee Candle store in Bellevue Square and check out all the holiday scents!

Lane's 8th Birthday

 Next on the list to catch up on is Lane's birthday!  He turned eight in October.  No party this year, we did a trip to Disneyland instead (pictures to come).  But of course we celebrated as a family, and we usually start his day off with a birthday pancake or waffle like on his 3rd birthday (below).

 We donated a Boxcar Children book to his class in honor of his birthday.  He is into those books lately.  He got lots of games for his birthday and his big present from us was a Spy Gear video camera remote control car.  He has affectionately named it Drover.  He's been having lots of fun with it.

 I made Lane's favorite dinner, Orange Chicken and of course his favorite, root beer to wash it down.

 And for dessert I made him Grasshopper Pie as he requested.  Estelle like it too!

Where to begin?

Where to begin?  I have a lot to catch up on.  I am not sure why I feel unmotivated to keep my blog up. I have always enjoyed doing it and I like having a place to keep memories and pictures.  I think it comes down to time.  What have I chosen to spend my time on lately?  I have spent a lot of time reflecting and reading God's word, something I have relied heavily on during my low times.  Reese is home now, Lane and Estelle need my attention, and I feel like I need to spend some of my time preparing for this move.  I said it again, a move to Alaska.  I am excited, fearful, happy, sad.  I feel the need to purge a lot of unneeded clutter.  So that is where my time has gone, and as you will see by my pictures we have spent a lot of time doing fun stuff too.  I am trying to really be present each day and enjoy these moments I have with my kids, family, friends.

So I will play a little catch up.  Starting with the middle of October when Reese's parents came to visit.
We went up to Julian and went on the Eagle Mine tour.  If you live in the San Diego area, that is a really cool thing to do.  The guys especially seem to love it.

 The drive up to Julian is awesome!

 Panning for gold at Eagle Mine.

The next day we headed up to San Pasqual Battlefield up near Escondido.  The guys seem to love that too, imagine that.

 The kids loved having Mop (Grandma) and Poopa (Grandpa) here.  A little side-note, Lane has called them that since he could talk, we have no idea where it came from.  I will continue my catch up soon!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

 The day after Reese got home we kept Lane home from school and we headed up to Bate's Nut Farm on their opening day of pumpkin season!  The kids had fun feeding the animals.  Estelle held it just far enough away for the animal not to reach it.

 This was the biggest smile I got out of her all day.  She's more of a serious poser these days.

 Now that daddy's home, the rough housing has resumed.

 Looking for the perfect pumpkins.

 Our almost 2 year old!  I can't believe it.

 The hay maze.  We got about half way through before Estelle started melting down.  It is really beautiful up there toward the mountains.  It was a little hot for going to the pumpkin patch but we all had fun and it was great to do it with Daddy this year.

Our Family...

... is together again!  Reese got home again last week.  It's great to have him back and we are all looking forward to spending a lot of time with him in the next few years :)  

 This is a picture of the kids first hugs from daddy.  I was a bad wife.  The bus bringing the guys in beat me to the base!  I saw the bus in the parking lot and parked as quick as I could and ran out of the car, but at least I remembered my camera!  Thankfully Reese hardly noticed :)

September in a Nutshell

 Well September is almost over.  It has been a hard month, one of adjustments, decisions and lots of doctor/dentist visits. But, first Lane started school.  Second grade to be exact.  He has had kind of a hard time adjusting to the school schedule again.  But we are getting there.

 Around the first week of September Lane knocked two of his front (permanent) teeth loose.  He was at AWANA and they were playing a game and his mouth ran into another kids forehead.  So I rushed him to the dentist at 7:30 at night.  They stabilized the teeth by bonding them to the ones next to them (which is what you see in the picture which was taken after the gums had healed a bit).  Now we wait.... we have been back twice now to check on their progress and to see if the nerves survive.  We still don't know and it could take another couple of months to know.  Poor kid.

 My sister Lesha got to come visit the other weekend.  It was so nice to have her here and she was really helpful.  I have been having a hard time with the heart diagnosis etc.  I was kind of at my wits end when she got here and it was refreshing to have her here.  I am feeling a little better now but it's been an emotional roller coaster trying to figure out what's next, what medication is right etc.  All this in the middle of a possible move to Alaska for Reese's job in the next 6 months.  The near future is all very up in the air right now and it's getting to me.  But, I have been learning a lesson in giving it all to God, praying all throughout the day and just learning to trust.  It will work out one way or another and God's plan is the best plan.

Can't forget picture of my little miss... covered in a rash.  Last week her whole back, tummy and face broke out.  I took her to the doctor and they thought it was pretty benign.  It was gone within two days. She was a cranky one though!  There were a couple days when I couldn't really get anything done, she just wanted to be held.  But we are over that and moving on :)

I am thankful that this month is almost over.  With the exception of about 1 million doctors appointments in the next few months, we have some fun things coming up and I love the fall, even in Southern California.  So here's to looking forward to what is ahead and trusting in the One who is in control.

August Catch Up Part 4

Okay this is my final August catch up post I promise!  I am focusing this post on cousins, siblings and the country.  Lane loves "the country." Reese's parents and my dad's are the best places for him to run around, explore, shoot his bb gun.  He was in his element!

Estelle and Hazel, they loved each other and fought like the sassy little girls that they are.  See that baby doll stroller in the front of the picture... there were some major fights over that thang.

 These kids.  I love their sweet relationships.  They wanted Grandpa Jim to drive them out to the border one night.  What great memories they made!

 Lane and I found time to pick blackberries on day too.  Oh man how I miss doing things like that!

 Lane and I went out to our old stompin' grounds in Sumas one day  Lane used to love swinging on this swing at uncle Jordan's house.  We lived just a couple blocks away from him when we lived there.  I had a garden at his house, while I weeded and watered, Lane would swing and feed pears to the horses :)

We drove out on my dads property in uncle Matt's truck.  

 My sista's and I out in the back field.  Check out Mt. Baker in the background.  You can't quite appreciate that view until you move away and realize how awesome it really is!

We had a BBQ at dad's and enjoyed his new deck.  We let the kids run around and get dirty, it was great.  It was such a great trip up there.  Reality has certainly hit now that I am back in San Diego, school is in full swing as well as doctors appointments etc.  It was fun while it lasted though.